Flexible diaphragm for thermic siphons



April 20 1926. 1,581,344`

. c. G. HAWLEY FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM FO'R THERMIC SIPHONS Filed May 1.3, 1922 Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE.

CHARLES GILBERT HAW'LEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LOCOMOTIVE FAIRE BOX COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FLEXIBLE DIAP'HB-AGM FOR TI-IERMIC SIPHONS.

Application filed May 13 tive boiler iireboxes which contain Nichol-l son thermic siphons and the like. Such devices comprise water walls which depend from the crown sheet of the firebox and present intake necks that openthrough the side throat sheet of the rebox. As the device occupies the reloox and is subjected to the intense heat therein and the great variations of temperature which occur at different rates of iiring, considerable dinerences of expansion and contraction are set y up between the Siphon or siphons and the fireboX containing the same. Further, the siphon presents a more extensive surface to the crown sheet than to the throat sheet of the nreboX, and as a result mostl of the eX- pansion and contraction is, so to speak, localized in the region of the juncture between the neck of the Siphon and the throat of the fireloox. I find that the expansion stresses culminate upon a common line which passes through the forward end of the Siphon neck and through the middle of the siphon top; in other words, a line which forms a rather acute angle with the flue sheet of the fireboX.' This is another way of saying that the expansion movements of the Siphon within the lirebox are neither wholly vertical nor wholly horizontal, but take effect upon a diagonal line so that there is a distinct downward thrust of the Siphon neck upon the flue sheet or throat sheet containing the same as well as a foreand-aft movement.

The object of my invention is to form the iiue sheet in such manner that it may receive they neck of the Siphon and freely respond to the movements thereof without danger of cracking any of the parts or breaking the autogenous welds by which they are united. It is extremely desirable that this joint between the fireloox and the Siphon shall be of a dependable nature and long life.

My invention will be readily understood 1922. Serial No. 560,667.

on reference to the accompanying drawings. which form part of this specii'ication and in which Fig. l is a vertical cross section of a locomotive fireboX embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vert-ical longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of the throat portion of the firebox and the end or neckof the Siphon; Fig. 4L is an inside face. view of the throat sheet taken from Fig. 3; Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 depict various sectional forms of the novel diaphragm forma tion which I employ herein; Figs. 9, 10, 11, l2 and 13 are detailed views illustrating modifications of the invention; Fig. le is a face view of a horizontally corrugated dian phragm plate containing a round hole to receive the siphon neck; Fig. l5 is a like View, but showing an oval hole for thc siphon neck. f y

In Figs. l and 2 I have shown a locomotive boiler and its iirehox Q equipped with two Nicholson therinic siphons 3. The necks 3 of these siphons as shown pass throughy and are welded in the front or throat sheet 4 of the fireboX. Thus the. neck of the Siphon is placed in communication with the front water space of the boiler. 5. AS understood, the top of each siphon opens directly into the 'upper water and steam space 6 of the boiler. My invention is concerned with the formation of the throat sheet 4. As a rule, in 'applying the siphon I iirst remove a section or patch of the original throat sheet and in place of the removed portion substitute a thinner plate or patch 7. The margins of this `patch are welded to the original throat sheet along the line S. The. plate. 7 is horizontally ccrrugatedaml ina-y be formed in either rolls or press dies. In vertical section it may partake of anyf of the cross-sectional appearance represented in Figs. 6, 7 andS. My preference is for the very shallow corrugations of Figs. 5. 6 and 7; shown also in Figs. 3 and l. The necks of' the siphons pass through holes 9, provided therefor in the diaphragm plate 7 and are secured by autogenous welds l0, see Fig. 3. By preference the corrugated plate is slightly iiattened around each neck as shown at ll in Fig. 4.

rIhe whole throat sheet is stayed or held hy a large number of closely spaced staybolts l2. In spacing these I make no distinction between the corrugated plate and the. remainder of the throat sheet or flue sheet, except that by preference the staybolts which are headed in the corrugated diaphragm portion are of the ,well-known flexible type. It will be obvious that such a, corrugated plate serves admirably to absorb all dililerences of expansionand contraction between the siphon and the remainder of the iirebox, including both horizontal and vertical tendencies to move-ment.

While the simply corrugated portions or plates above described, and which, if desired, may be formed directly in the original throat sheet, are deemed the best, I nevertheless 'desire that it be understood that my invention eoinprehends other foi-ins of corrugated diaphragm sections or plates. To this end I have depicted several such additional forms in Figs. 9 to 13. Figs. 9, l0 and 1l illustrate plates having` two large corrugations, the lower larger than the upper. Figs. l2 and 13 illustrate corrugated plates which are distinguished by flanged openings 1B for the reception of the end of the siphon neck.

This invention is of Very simple nature, but of very clearly defined and well reco`g nizediinportance.

Having,` thus described my invention. I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

The herein described Siphon diaphragm comprising a horizontally corrugated metal sheet of irebox material containing` an opening` for a siphon neck, said horizontal corrugations terminating in spaced relation to the margin of said opening, thereby providinga plain uncorrugated Zone surrouinlinp` said opemng, Y

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of May, 1922.

CHARLES GILBERT HAIR/*LEY 

